Folding chair.



No. 665,493. Patented Jan. 8, mm. s. WHITE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

(Application filed June 4, 1960.)

(No Model.)

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WATENT FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,493, dated January8, 190i:

Application filed June 4, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LOUISE S. WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eskridge, in the county of Wabaunsee and State of Kansas,have invented certain new and useful lm provements in Folding Chairs;and I do here by declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in folding chairs; and theobjects are to provide a chair which will fold completely, which may beextended readily and afford a comfortable and secure seat, which may becarried in its folded position or condition, packed in a small space fortransportation, and which may be positioned and held to afford atemporary table when desired.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction andarrangement of parts and their combination, as will be fully disclosedhereinafter and the novelty particularly and distinctly pointed out inthe claims.

I accomplish the objects and purposes of the invention by theconstructions and assemblage of elements or parts illustrated in theannexed drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical central sectionthrough the chair, showing the parts extended as when used as a chair orseat. Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the chair, showing the backof the upper hinged section constituting. the table-board. Fig. 3 isaside elevation showing the back turned down to horizontal position, asused for a table. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing the chair asfolded ready to be carried by the handle or bail. Fig. 5 is a detail ofone set of the pivotally-connected side braces, with the clamping-screwtherein and the lug or stop which limits and prevents the movement ofthe braces beyond a determined point. Fig. 6 is adetail central sectionthrough one set of the side braces, showing the clamping-screw and lugor stop.

Referring to the drawings, A A and B B designate the respective legs ofthe chair, which are pivotally connected by a cross rung or bar 1, uponwhich they turn into alinement when folded, as shown in Fig. 1, orspread, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the legs extend abovetheir pivotal Serial No. 18,994. (No model.)

support and are connected by cross-bars 2 3; to which the flexible seat4: is secured in any well-known manner. The upper extensions of the legsB B are made longer than the upper extensions of the legs A A, so thatthe upper end of the latter may be turned to stand under the cross-barof the former and clamp or hold the material of the seat between thecross-bars, shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This arrangement, it willbe perceived, holds the legs in alinement and against displacement whenfolded by any ordinary or accidental force.

0 designates the back of the chair, composed of side pieces 5 5,suitably connected by cross-pieces 6 6 and having their lower endshinged or pivotally secured to the upper ends of the upper extensions ofthe front legs of the chair, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.On the outer face of the back is secured a thin wooden or metal backing7, serving as a covering for the back and also constituting the top of atable when the back of the chair is turned into the position shown inFig. 3 of the drawings.

To hold the back from turning back farther than the desired or requiredposition, I pivotally secure the lower ends of metal straps 8 to theextensions of the front legs and connect their upper ends to metalstraps 9 and then pivotally secure the upper ends of the straps 9 to theside rails or pieces of the back, as shown. The lower ends of the straps9 extend below their pivotal connections to the lower straps, and on theextensions, as 10, I form lugs or stops 11, which when the back is movedto the upright position engage or lodge on the upper edge of the lowerstraps and prevent the straps from further extension and hold the backfrom further backward movement and relieve it from undue strain on itsconnections to the legs of the chair, as indicated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. 7

The pivotal connecting means of the union of the straps 8 and 9 consistof bolts 12 12 projected through them, the outer ends of the bolts beingscrew-threaded, and applied thereto are thumb-nuts 13 13, whereby thejoints may be clamped together against movement. This is essential whenthe chair is used as a table, wherein the back is turned down to ahorizontal position, so that the board covering of its rear face may beutilized as a table, whereon may be placed dishes and conveniences forpartaking of luncheons. The chair may also be used in this position forironing purposes. The chair is adapted for outdoor uses, and ascamp-chairs are generally utilized for comfort and convenience and theadditional adaptation and utilization of a table and the other purposesnamed.

In order that the device may be readily and conveniently carried whenfolded, a bail or handle 14 is pivotally connected to the uppercross-bar of the extensions of the front legs.

It will be observed that by reason of the particular arrangement andaggroupment of the parts or elements of the chair it is capable of beingmore compactly folded and of occupying less space when folded than anyother chair that I am aware of. The legs fold or move into alinement andthe back turns down flat and straight on the legs, as shown in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings.

To utilize the chair for temporary purposes as a table, the legs areextended to their limit and the back is lifted or turned down tohorizontal position, and then the clamping-screws of the jointed strapsare tightened up to hold the back firmly in the table position.

What I claim is- 1. A folding chair, comprising front and back legspivotally secured together and extending above their pivotalconnections, and having cross-bars in their upper ends, the rearwardextensions of the front legs being longer than the extensions of thehind legs, so that the legs are adapted to turn back and lie inalinement with the front legs, a flexible seat secured to the uppercross-pieces of the legs and be folded between them when in alinement, aback hinged to the rear extensions of the front legs, a table board orcovering on the rear face of the back, jointed metal straps to hold theback in upright position, and clamping-screws to clampthe joints of thestraps and hold the back in horizontal position.

2. A folding chair, comprising front and back legs pivotally securedtogether and extending above their pivotal connections, and havingcross-bars in their upper ends, the rearward extensions of the frontlegs being longer than the extensions of the hind legs, so that the legsare adapted to turn back and lie in alinement with the front legs, aflexible seat secured to the upper cross-pieces of the legs and befolded between them when in alinement, a back hinged to the rearextensions of the front legs adapted to turn down to horizontality andprovided with a tableboard on its rear face, metal straps pivotallyconnected to the sides of the extensions of the front legs and to theside pieces of the back, and clamping-screws in the meeting ends of themetal straps, whereby when the back is turned down to horizontalposition it is held securely therein, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUISE S. WHITE.

Witnesses:

FRED. D. WHITE, W. H. MELRosE.

